Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Endorses Mark Kelly for U.S. Senate in Arizona

Mark Kelly Made Gun Safety a Priority; in the U.S. Senate He’ll Fight for Common-Sense Gun Safety Laws

NEW YORK – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund endorsed Captain Mark Kelly for U.S. Senate in Arizona, lauding his commitment to gun safety. Earlier this year, Kelly received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction, a prerequisite for being considered for endorsement.
 
A combat veteran and NASA astronaut, Captain Kelly is a national leader in the movement to end gun violence. As the husband of a gun violence survivor, former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, Kelly is all too familiar with the dangers posed by our country’s inadequate gun laws. Kelly is a tireless advocate for common-sense gun safety laws, and his strong gun violence prevention platform includes support for background checks on all gun sales and red flag laws that can help prevent mass shootings.

Kelly’s opponent, unelected Senator Martha McSally, has refused to support common-sense gun safety laws like background checks on all gun sales, while taking money from the gun lobby. 

“Captain Mark Kelly has proven his heroism as a leader in the Navy, NASA, and the movement to end gun violence, where he has been a forceful voice for action,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown is proud to support his campaign to unseat appointed Senator Martha McSally, who has established herself as an eager ally of the gun lobby during her short time in office.”

“Captain Mark Kelly is a gun sense champion who will stand with the overwhelming majority of Arizonans who want stronger gun safety laws, and vote to keep our families and our communities safe,” said Kara Waite, a volunteer leader with the Arizona chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We will work tirelessly to help elect him to the U.S. Senate.”

Polling of likely November 2020 voters in Arizona affirms that gun safety is a winning issue for voters across the state, including key battleground areas. Arizonans overwhelmingly support stronger gun violence prevention laws and rate gun safety as a top priority for the 2020 elections. In fact, opposing background checks on all gun sales is one of the most toxic positions a candidate for office can take in the eyes of Arizona voters.

In May, Everytown announced “Gun Sense Majority: Arizona” — a $5 million financial and grassroots effort dedicated to electing gun sense candidates up and down the ballot in Arizona. In April, Students Demand Action launched Arizona’s new Students Demand Action Virtual Field Office, an office focused on registering young voters virtually.  

Polling released last month demonstrates the surging intensity of Americans’ support for common-sense gun safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic, with a significant majority of Americans viewing background checks on all gun sales and disarming domestic abusers “more important” now than before the pandemic began.  

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund plan to spend at least $60 million on the 2020 elections — double what they spent during the 2018 elections, and more than any gun safety opponent, including the NRA, reported spending on the 2016 elections.